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AEGIS European Conference on African Studies
11 - 14 July 2007
African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Pathways and Dynamics of Adaptation to Droughts and Floods at Household and Village Levels in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Sub-Saharan Africa
| Panel |
77. Conceptualizing natural hazards, risks and resilience in Africa
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| Paper ID | 207 |
| Author(s) |
Ifejika Speranza, Chinwe
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| Paper |
No paper submitted
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| Abstract | Droughts and floods are major hazards that affect rural livelihoods in Africa. Although the physical impacts of droughts and floods are different, their socio-economic consequences can be similar. Individuals and communities respond in different ways to these hazards. Such response can be through adaptation. Adaptation refers to adjusting practices to suit evolving conditions with the aim of reducing vulnerability and adverse impacts, and with the aim of benefiting from opportunities. Yet the continued severity of impacts suggests that adaptation practices are not adequately effective. Thus this paper aims to provide a better understanding of the nature and processes of adaptation to these hazards at household and village levels. Data used for this study is based on own field research and on a meta-analysis of household- and village-level studies.
The ability to anticipate, cope with, and recover from the impacts of these hazards are explored from the following questions:
1. What are the actual adaptation practices at household and village levels?
2. Which livelihood assets shape which adaptation practices?
3. Can patterns and pathways be identified from adaptation practices and processes?
4. How have adaptation patterns and pathways changed over time?
5. How effective are the adaptation practices in reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience?
6. What implications do the foregoing have for future likely impacts, for vulnerability and resilience?
Own research shows that poverty, high rainfall variability (in general), inadequate institutional capacities, the dichotomy of customs and state laws, actor perceptions, capacities and practices, constraining social-ecological-economic environments and inadequate policy enforcement are some major factors that shape vulnerability and adaptation. Through the on-going meta-analysis, this study can reveal how widespread these factors are in Africa and may provide a basis for prescriptive analysis of further adaptation options and policies. This research is a ‘work in progress’ from which preliminary results are to be presented.
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